April 17, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The No. 11 Missouri Tigers (31-8, 4-5 Big 12) fought past a tough Texas Tech (31-11, 3-7) team in game one of this weekend's Big 12 series, as Mizzou upended the Red Raiders by a 3-1 score.
Senior Jana Hainey put together her best outing of the season, as she went 5.1 innings while allowing just one run, scattering six hits, walking one and striking out five. The five strikeouts and 5.1 innings pitched are both season-bests for the southpaw.
Junior Rhea Taylor went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored, moving her into third place all-time with 153 career runs. Freshman Jenna Marston finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, while junior Catherine Lee drove in two while picking up a double.
Missouri pushed across the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Taylor led off the game with a single up the middle, and as she has done so many times in her career, immediately swiped second base. Lee then followed with a perfectly placed bunt that died right on the foul line two feet in front of home plate, moving Taylor to third. Marston followed by ripping a single to left-center, and just like that the Tigers were up 1-0.
Mizzou tacked on another in the third when Taylor, again leading off the inning, roped a triple over the left fielder's head. The three-bagger was the third of the season for the Buford, Ga., native, and the 10th of career, moving her into a tie for 10th-most triples all-time at MU. Lee followed with a sacrifice fly to center, easily scoring Taylor.
Texas Tech got one back in the top of the fourth with freshman Mikey Kenney's 14th home run of the season. The newcomer crushed a 1-2 pitch deep over the left field fence to cut the Tiger lead to 2-1.
The Tigers got that run back in the fifth to extend their lead to 3-1. Taylor once again led off the inning with a base hit, as she chopped a single to the first baseman. After easily beating the play, Taylor moved up to second on a throwing error to put her in scoring position. Lee then roped a double into the right-center gap, giving the Tigers their third run of the game.
The Red Raiders had a chance in the top of the 7th, as they got a leadoff double and an error and a walk to put runners on the corners with no one out. However, sophomore Kristin Nottelmann got out of the jam, as she got the next three batters to make outs. Leah Legler was called out as she attempted to lay down the bunt, due to being out of the batter's box when she made contact with the ball. Nottelmann then got Jennifer Lee to strike out swinging and Logan Hall to pop out to end the threat and the game, giving Nottelmann her second save of the season.
Missouri will go for the sweep on Sunday beginning at Noon CT at University Field. Stay tuned to mutigers.com for more information.